Letters To The Editor: Preserving aviation history for posterity

Posted: Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Opinion

We'd like to to respond to the March 31 editorial about, and Jessica Raynor's March 23 coverage of, the recent appearance of Texas Aviation Historical Society board members before the Amarillo Airport Board.

Enthusiasm was high at the meeting, but specifics were lacking. Airport managment has invited us to prepare and present in detail at the next meeting our plans for the former Amarillo Air Terminal and associated buildings at English Field, which currently house the English Field Air and Space Museum.

We have enjoyed a respectful, supportive, cooperative relationship with city and airport officials since the relocation of our museum to the international airport from Tradewind in 1996. During the almost two decades since our inception, this paper's support has been superlative. We hope these relationships will continue.

We recognize the importance of the Amarillo area's contribution to our American aviation achievement and fondly remember flying in and out of the old terminal. We seek only to honor the past and perpetuate the Centennial Spirit of Flight for younger generations.

It is not our place to determine city officials' priorities. We ask only that English Field be considered a possibility and that we have the opportunity, with the city, to explore options for the common good.

Jack R. Barnes, President

TAHS

Amarillo

Clarification on AGN aviation stories

Your March 23 story and March 31 editorial about the Texas Aviation Historical Society and the English Field air museum were inaccurate.

TAHS, airport management and the city always have had a good relationship. The TAHS board appeared before the Amarillo Airport Board on March 22 not to propose a takeover of the property on which the museum is located but to discuss TAHS's and AAB's annual "Update." TAHS's president detailed the past year's activities; a board member reviewed all possible options of funding sources. Problems regarding control of the museum property were discussed in relation to TAHS's ability to apply for government funds. No firm proposals were made regarding takeover of the property.

The only legal matter discussed in detail was TAHS's request for the airport to expand lease boundaries so the property could be re-fenced for security. TAHS expressed concern regarding its lease's expiration date, as rents are paid well beyond the current expiration date.

TAHS recognizes that the future of the English Field terminal rests solely with the airport management's and board's decision regarding whether the property is needed for future airport growth. TAHS feels that the property, because it is in a small corner behind the tower and weather cargo terminal, is unusable as an airport cargo terminal. The airport must recognize this before any progress can be made toward refurbishing the English Field terminal and establishing a first-class air museum for Amarillo.

Marvin E. Arnold

Commerical Pilot and Aviation Historian

Amarillo

America snowballing toward the abyss

This whole gay "marriage" thing is an insult from both a legal and moral standpoint. It angers and sickens me. Most of the states in America have laws defining legal marriage as taking place between a man and woman.

Those judges in "Commufornia" and that county clerk in New Mexico flagrantly flouted their respective states' laws by sanctioning homosexual "marriages." Why they are not being charged and prosecuted for these blatant violations is beyond me. How much slack do you or I get if we get caught on the road without a seat belt?

This country is headed downhill at breakneck speed. Our constitutionally guaranteed rights are being stolen by our own government and/or subjectively, perversely reinterpreted by members of said government on both federal and state levels.

Where is the outcry? Where is the resistance movement against the constant sheep-like herding of us ever nearer the precipice? Are we afraid we might miss "American Idol" if we get off our couches and take a stand against the raping of all that our nation was founded upon and meant to be?

Trace L. Gordin

Canyon

The new 'American idol' leading us to ruin

In answer to F. Wayne Chapman's March 21 question as to why there is such "unfathomable" hatred toward the White House's present occupant, I submit the following no-brainer.

As the "Christians" continue to back their lying mooncalf of a president and stick their heads in the sand, here is what we have come to:

A president blinded by power and privilege, oblivious to the devastation toward which he is pushing America and the world.

An international corporate culture run amok, freed from restraints in every area from pollution control to health and safety standards to merciless price-gouging, even as the abuses slip quietly from the attention of the corporate-owned media. (Where are the unfettered, watchdog media that should expose this duplicitous administration's hypocrisy, lies and secretiveness?)

An economy trumpeted as "booming," even as hundreds of thousands lose their jobs, slip into poverty and are left without homes, health care or enough to eat.

A "patriot act" that makes anyone who speaks out in a way the Washington thought-militia deems threatening a traitor.

Maybe it's time we returned to the real Christian teachings of our fathers and the Golden Rule and gave up on our new idol: Greed.